The Kennedy Car

Everybody knows the Governor Connoly's limousine where the President JFK died. This limousine was licenced under number : GG 300 and dubbed "X-100" by US Secret Service.

After the Kennedy assassination, the car was completly rebodied by Ford and Hess & Eisenhardt. This changes cost more than $500,000 !!!

It includes :

new black paint job (originally in midnight blue)

1600lbs of bullet proof was added (that increase the weight of the car to nearly 10,000lbs)

addition of a non-removable top

solid aluminium rims inside the tires to make them flat-proof

a fuel tank filled with porous foam to prevent explosion in case of penetration by a bullet

a second air-conditioning unit in the trunk

reinforcement of some mechanical and structural components to acceptthe added weight of armor

complete retrimming of the rear compartment to eliminate the damage that was caused by the assassination

a more powerful motor (17% greater power) was necessary and added

The new X-100 was finished in May 1964, it was put back into service and was used by President Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter before being retired in 1977.

In 1977, the odometer shows more than 100,000 mls ! Ford Motor Company donated the car to Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, where you can admirate several presidential parade vehicles : the 1939 Lincoln V12 convertible (the "Sunshine Special") used by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan (the "Bubble Top") used by Presidents Truman and Eisenhower, and the 1972 Lincoln used by Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush. The 1972 vehicle is the last presidential parade vehicle that will be given to any museum. The Secret Service will destroy all future presidential vehicles in test so that the complex electronic and security devices will remain confidential.

1963

This 1963 limousine was a project for production of future personal limousines.

LEHMANN-PETERSON Limousines

The Lehmann-Peterson limousines were custom built on Sawyer Avenue in Chicago. First prototype was completed in November 1963 using a new 1964 chassis. The wheelbase is stretched to 160 inches. In 1966, limousines appears in the Lincoln catalog. The initial price was $13,400 and by 1968 had risen to $15,104. Numerous options could bring the price to around $20,000 !

1964

Production: 1 prototype

The "POPEMOBILE", the car of the Pope Paul VI. He was sat on a hydraulically-operated rear seat and talk into a microphone for the people can see and hear him.
This car was sold by the Ford Motor Co. to a doctor in Fort Dodge, Iowa after the Pope's visit in 1964. It was used for parades in the U.S. Later it was sold to a man in the southwest U.S. Now, it own by a french collector.
The Popemobile was the prototype subjected to over 100,000 miles of testing by the Ford Company prior to refitting as a parade car for the October visit of the Pope. The parade car was later used in Chicago in parades honoring the Astraunauts.

Only one prototype was recensed but I found other 1964 limousines :

1965

Production: Over 100 units

2 White limousines for a photo.

Do you want to see the interior of a 1965 Lincoln limousine ?

Ford found this limousine good for selling the Lincoln Continental, they show one limousine on their ads.

President Lyndon B. Johnson owned personally a 1965 Limousine.

Robert Vaung owned a black Limousine.

Not yet President of the USA, Ronald Reagan owned one of the first Lehmann-Peterson limousines.

1966

Production: 101

A very rare 1966 red limousine in Switzerland:

1967

Production: 85 plus 1 formal sedan

I found a picture of the 1 formal Sedan stretched of several inches only.

1968

Production: 56

The 1968 Presidential limousine. It look like the 1969 used by the President Nixon. I think that this car was presented to the President and modified in 1969 model before delivery. If you have info, please tell me.

Both limousine on the same photo : 1968 and 1969.

1969

Production: 85

All trims are gold plated on this limousine! Who had ordered a such limo in 1969 ?

Maybe, you know the limousine of President NIXON, if no, take a look on this specialy equipped limousine.

1970

Production: 17 limousines, 1 Town Car and 1 Mark III 4dr

The 1970 presidential limousine

The President Ford in his 1970 presidential limousine

A very rare picture of the 1970 Mark III 4dr : This photo was taken at the 1992 LCOC Mid-America meet in Minnesota. The car was being delivered from Colorado to a mew owner. Many thanks to Jim Storck who give me this photo.

OTHER LINCOLN LIMOUSINES

By Lehmann-Peterson :

Unknown coachbuilders :
The 1989 Lincoln Presidential Limousine.

Have you seen this limousine on your road ? How many passengers can find place into this limousine ?